Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-05
THE CITYsS ROBBERS.
A Few Of Many Moro Cases OF Larceny
by PawnbrOkers.

The ClTY>S kOBBEkS.
A Few Of Many More Cases Of Larceny
by Pawnbrokers.
During the Christmas week the MINER re-
porter, having received "pointer," took a
look over the dives kept by the pawnbro.
kers OF Butte. Some were presided over by
apparently decent people; others we're not.
Last evening lady met the reporter on
Maiu Street, introduced herself, and asked
him to meet her in the parlor of one OF the
hotels. OF course tho meeting was had.
Here is, in outline, her story. for which the
reporter personally vouches; II am Mrs.
=. Ny husband is now in City on
BUSINESS, During the holiday season had
use for more ready cash than he expected,
and could not get it on the moment.
When we were married he gave me full
jeweled Swiss gold watch and chain, worth
in weight $3.50. l knew l could command
the funds needed at the moment by tele-
gram, but did not have time to telegraph.
l pledged the watch and chain for $40, re-
deemable in thirty.six hours. Within
twenty hours went to the "dive" of the
broker" and asked for my watch and
chain. He first collected $3.50 for the use
OF the $40, and then gave me this (showing
watch). 1t is not my watch. l returned
to him a day after and said to him this is
not my WATCH" and he told me it was. He
had piece of card in his hand that CORE
sponded to the number OF my watch and
received my $3.50, his $40, and my good
watch. When my husband returns he will
notice this thing What shall l do?"
The reporter told the lady to tell her hus-
band the truth, and he. being a man
worthy of such q wife. would make that
jug-handled pawnbroker give back tho
watch and chain or order Tor him a 3x6
farm in the graveyard.
Here's another case: A friend OF one of
the most substantial, respected and
square-dealing business men in Butte City
money. He had $500 gold watch on his
person. He pawned it for thirty days for
a small sum. He, for reasons OF his own,
next morning went to visit friends outside
Of Montana. After getting to his early
home he wrote his friend in Butte to 60 to
the pawnbroker's shop, pay his bill, de-
posit the watch in Clark & Larabie's bank
and draw on him for the amount. The
Butte City gentleman went to the dive and
10! the keeper not only told him that tho
watch was deposited for sixteen days in
stead of thirty, but being forfeited, it was
gone! "Then tell me where it is. will get
it back, said the Butte City business man.
"Ah, if you will give me 500 get the
watch for you," was the scoundrel's reply.
Meantime two ''cappers" for this fellow
came in whom the business man
disposed OF in short order. The result
was that the man who pawned his watch
lost 1T. The pawnbroker stole it and an
innocent man wears it now in Utah.
Here's another case: It happened yes
terday evening. A woman pawned
watch for a trifing sum. She paid the
charge or discount in advance. She re-
ceived ticket that certified. not the time
she bargained for, but just half that time.
She did not notice the ticket. When she
went yesterday for her watch the thief be-
hind the. .deadfan counter took the ticket,
put it in his pocket and refused to give up
suoundrel had the woman alone. She
could not speak or read English and was
puzzled why she could not get back her
or, at least, the ticket. Fortu-
nately she met an officer. She told him in
her broken way what the trouble was. He
took her back to the shop and stated to
the fellow behind the counter what he was
there for. II know nothing about it, The
watch. is sold long ago. She forfeited it,"
said the pawn thief. Give her the ticket,
then, said Jordan. II will not, was the re-
ply;
Then will step over to Judge MeHat-
toms Office for a warrant and see If you
will not give her the ticket" said Jordan.
the ticket; business is business, you know"
" mined the dirty puppy, as he handed the
poor woman the ticket.
Another case could be told OF here. At
the request OF the party's brother it 10
but it can be truthfully stated |
that young lady who wore an engagement |
ling not twenty days ago will have to pur- |
chase it from scarlet woman who paid |
a $50 gold piece for it in good faith. As |
these stories we're poured into the repor- |
ter's ear, he told the manager OF the paper |
hat he would be ''out" for while. He |
visited places that command the respect |
md attention of the best business men in |
Butte and found out, not only that these
more of like nature had occurred that q |
arge number OF the best business firms in
jown had joined in petition to the legis-
ature, which meets next week, asking that |
/ law be passed compelling pawnbrokers to |
Eeep open. ..booke, showing when, by whom,
1t what price, when redeemable,
md deliverable pledged or pawned goods
IRE.
Learning this fact the reporter huntedup
he circnlator of the petition and asked to
zee it., telling him frankly his purpose. The
irculator at once agreed to show it to tho
eporter that he might publish. it for the
interests OF the honest people bf the COM
nunity. It turned out that the badly
lrawn instrument was in the hand of
nan calling himself a lawyer. The re-
porter went with the circula tor to a place
where he could see the holder OF the paper.
lie met the man, who replied to his re-
luest that he might see the paper, II drew
t. 1t is a private affair, and you cannot
zee it," The contemplate manner OF the
hyster was only equaled by his presump-
ion. With laugh, such as a man uses
vhen he meets fool, the reporter left the
lpstart who has tried to whitewash him
elf into respectablity by claiming TO be
member of an honorable profession. Soon
lfter, the officer told the reporter that the
attorney" God save us) was willing to
ct THE MINER man see his scrawl, but
cared the rawnbrokers would get up
ounter petition and defeatit. These facts
ire given for the Butte people to read.
The reporter is personally answerabfe for
heir truth to anyone whom they may OF
end. And meanwhile, The MINER knows
hat when it throws a stone and hears a
log howl, it is safe calculation that the
tone hit that dog.
LOCAL NEWS NOTES.
Silver 1907.